: T20 World Cup 2026: Brian Bennett escapes Jasprit Bumrah’s yorker with quick reflexes, kicks ball away

Published - 27 Feb 2026, 10:09 IST | Updated - 27 Feb 2026, 10:38 IST

India kept their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign alive with a 72-run win over Zimbabwe in the Super Eight clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on February 26. But amid the cricketing action, a stunning reflex act by Zimbabwe opener Brian Bennett denied Jasprit Bumrah a wicket, and it went viral.

The incident occurred in the fifth over of Zimbabwe’s chase. Bumrah nailed a perfect yorker aimed right at the middle stump. Bennett managed to dig it out, but the ball trickled back toward the stumps. In a split 1.1 seconds, the 22-year-old turned around and kicked the ball away with his right foot, preventing it from crashing into the stumps.

𝙂𝙤𝙖𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 🤝 𝙎𝙩𝙪𝙢𝙥 𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 Bennett reacts in a flash & kicks it away to the leg side to save his wickets!ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup 👉 SUPER 8, #INDvZIM | LIVE NOW ➡️ https://t.co/vIdZg7mGmy

India's SF qualification scenario after IND vs ZIM match

While Bennett survived that moment, the contest was slipping away from Zimbabwe. Earlier, India produced one of the most destructive batting displays of the tournament, scoring 256/4, the second-highest total in T20 World Cup history. Sanju Samson’s promotion to the top paid dividends as he hit two sixes inside the first two overs. Abhishek Sharma finally found his form, racing to a 26-ball fifty, while Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav kept the scoreboard ticking.

Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma gave the team a solid finish with Hardik hitting a tall 97 off 59 balls, smashing eight fours and six sixes. He even took on Bumrah and later got 26 runs in an over off Shivam Dube. Arshdeep Singh was clinical at the death, picking up 3/24. Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy chipped in as well, while Bumrah went wicketless.

Hardik gives flying kiss to Mahieka after fifty in IND v ZIM

The victory was crucial. After South Africa defeated West Indies earlier in the day, India’s fate remained in their own hands. This win keeps their semifinal hopes alive and sets up a virtual quarterfinal clash against West Indies in Kolkata on March 1. A win there would seal India’s place in the last four, while a defeat would end their campaign. For Zimbabwe, the loss confirms their elimination from the tournament.